tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40124930070823113012024-03-13T01:47:39.001-07:00Christianity Without the Religion"Christ did not bring religion; Christ brought the Kingdom of God." Fr. Alexander SchmemannBrad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comBlogger516125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-32845066960877161342017-07-13T12:25:00.004-07:002017-07-13T12:25:56.872-07:00CWR blog has moved! Come on over!<b><span style="font-size: large;">Greetings to our CWR blog readers and subscribers.</span></b><br />
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<br />Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-62260300348639953452017-06-26T10:47:00.000-07:002017-06-26T10:47:25.485-07:00The Meaning of Trinity - Steve McVey<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/116382921?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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<b><a href="https://vimeo.com/116382921">McVey-Meaning of Trinity</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user14780090">Plain Truth Ministries</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</b>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-65428351817953998462017-06-19T10:45:00.000-07:002017-06-19T10:45:07.683-07:00God is Relational - Steve McVey <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/115934533?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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<b><a href="https://vimeo.com/115934533">McVey-God Is Love</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user14780090">Plain Truth Ministries</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</b>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-82585643425109723172017-06-12T10:45:00.000-07:002017-06-12T10:45:23.334-07:00God is Love (not just an attribute) - Steve McVey<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/115934533?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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<b><a href="https://vimeo.com/115934533">McVey-God Is Love</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user14780090">Plain Truth Ministries</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</b>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-42827291518139626002017-06-06T10:32:00.001-07:002017-06-06T10:32:38.420-07:00"I Haven't Seen You Lately" - Greg Albrecht<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtyMHTEBBKxLde_2BezoNMkNFqm7wAxbg8I2VGz9ZxFLpqdR379jtgZvG_O-4uqrpAsukhSTIud0h6_jq1dM6Ku4-Le5dqmR9jt3saVzCOp0jo0cRELPVHLsY9-qLSnnrGjA4FsiRZbA/s1600/0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtyMHTEBBKxLde_2BezoNMkNFqm7wAxbg8I2VGz9ZxFLpqdR379jtgZvG_O-4uqrpAsukhSTIud0h6_jq1dM6Ku4-Le5dqmR9jt3saVzCOp0jo0cRELPVHLsY9-qLSnnrGjA4FsiRZbA/s640/0058.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A friend of mine who attends her church on a fairly regular basis missed a few weeks in a row. When she returned, one of the “church ladies” greeted her with: “I haven’t seen you lately!” Of course, the “church lady” meant she hadn’t seen my friend lately at church, and that was a cause for concern.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“I haven’t seen you lately” might include the following thoughts:</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">• First, let’s assume the best. This greeting might be intended to communicate the fact that my friend was genuinely missed, and that her return was warmly welcomed. However, “I am glad to see you. How are you?” might avoid the extra helping of guilt and innuendo present in “I haven’t seen you lately.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />• On the other hand, religion places a high premium on attendance in a particular building located on a specific piece of real estate at a regular, recurring time. Given the resulting guilt that can affect someone who misses a few services, “I haven’t seen you lately” might actually mean “Where the hell have you been?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ptm.org/havent-seen-lately-greg-albrecht"><b>CLICK HERE to continue</b></a></span></div>
Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-83635304725898579122017-06-05T10:43:00.000-07:002017-06-05T10:43:01.203-07:00Irreligious Christianity and Christ-centered Faith - Greg Albrecht<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/116897773?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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<b><a href="https://vimeo.com/116897773">Welcome to Plain Truth Ministries</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user14780090">Plain Truth Ministries</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</b>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-67718475195334656232017-06-02T08:57:00.000-07:002017-06-02T08:57:22.963-07:00Does God Do Whatever He Wants because He is God? Ken Tanner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoV_oeYO9JPCuYL_JTfwQXAgwkwIHRC-jdJl4gv1LyYJtirczhNKTbl-jLcpatapU1BDAQpkFtYt7MJHT8-cid_NrwGLUnSDRFMEZCQiD_LoMiXMFeyBd2T61zYFKOEC75lYe-0tRxkY/s1600/all-powerful-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="640" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoV_oeYO9JPCuYL_JTfwQXAgwkwIHRC-jdJl4gv1LyYJtirczhNKTbl-jLcpatapU1BDAQpkFtYt7MJHT8-cid_NrwGLUnSDRFMEZCQiD_LoMiXMFeyBd2T61zYFKOEC75lYe-0tRxkY/s640/all-powerful-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I frequently run into the argument that <strong>God can do whatever he wants because he is God.</strong><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Partnered with this assertion is often an accusation that <em>human “sensibilities” about what is right and wrong are not the same as God’s</em>—that
his ways are higher than our ways—as a defense for God behaving in ways
that we would otherwise call sociopathic in humans.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Christians believe we know what we know about evil because of what is
revealed about God in Jesus Christ *and* by what is inherent in
humanity, owing to our being fashioned in the image of God. This image
is broken in us but not eradicated or absent, even in the “worst” of us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And above and far beyond this there is now in Jesus Christ a human
life that embodies all that God intended for our race, and his brilliant
life—not mankind’s broken collective aspirations about the good!—is now
the foundation, the *human* measure of what is good and what is evil.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ptm.org/god-anything-wants-god-ken-tanner"><b>Click here to continue</b></a></span>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-10916958133427355052017-05-31T16:34:00.004-07:002017-05-31T16:34:46.502-07:00CWR Magazine - June Issue has arrived! <a href="https://www.ptm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/CWRm-June-2017-cover.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-7971 alignleft" height="438" src="https://www.ptm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/CWRm-June-2017-cover-232x300.jpeg" width="339" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>T</b><strong>he June edition of the <i>CWR magazine </i>is available! </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="https://www.ptm.org/?p=7970&preview=true"><span style="color: blue;">CLICK HERE</span></a> to read. In this issue: </strong></span><br />
<blockquote>
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>Forgiveness…Who First?</em> </span>by Greg Albrecht <em>– </em>p1</span></strong></blockquote>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Best Father’s Day Gift</span></em> by Laura Urista <i>– </i>p7</span></strong></blockquote>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Charm of Beauty in an Ugly Age</span></em> by Brian Zahnd <em>– </em>p11</span></strong></blockquote>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">Did all people receive the Holy Spirit on Pentecost</span></em> by Greg Albrecht <em>– </em>p12</span></strong></blockquote>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">Reflections on A More Christlike God</span></em> by Amber Hamilton<em> – </em>p13</span></strong></blockquote>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>Wishful thinking? Or Blessed Hope!</em> </span>by Brad Jersak <em>– </em>p15</span></strong></blockquote>
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Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-11122844957979968102017-05-29T12:53:00.002-07:002017-05-29T12:53:37.461-07:00I Want to See - God's grace flows to the low places - Greg Albrecht<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzz-yXuVxEsyjQEZFtci2RbGBXFSQ0qMy3CLh-32L4DJAHqKSZckhq9ccXx48U6vdLXfiabMhNaN8i-DbS13pRs2hG61SBdq_RhOwC2nErqcy5wZlbia_6cEoMvrCWJo2Rhcq5vWrCgs/s1600/0057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="600" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzz-yXuVxEsyjQEZFtci2RbGBXFSQ0qMy3CLh-32L4DJAHqKSZckhq9ccXx48U6vdLXfiabMhNaN8i-DbS13pRs2hG61SBdq_RhOwC2nErqcy5wZlbia_6cEoMvrCWJo2Rhcq5vWrCgs/s640/0057.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For the last time during his earthly ministry, Jesus was en route to Jerusalem. He had only a few days left in his earthly life—with every step he took toward Jerusalem he knew he was that much closer to the awful pain and suffering that awaited him. The road took him through Jericho, a city located about 17 miles northeast of Jerusalem. It was just before Passover—one of the three times in the year when pilgrims traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts of the old covenant. So the road was crowded with travelers, and as a result there were many others alongside the road—small businessmen and entrepreneurs, as well as beggars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mark 10:46-52 tells us that Jesus heard a cry as he walked through Jericho—”Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many who were with Jesus told the man who was yelling to shut up. But the man persistently yelled even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Maybe these people who thought that they were helping and serving Jesus felt that their Master was far too busy and important to take time for a blind man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Earlier in this chapter (Mark 10) we read the disciples had previously rebuked people who brought little children to Jesus—again, they assumed that they knew what was best for Jesus but Jesus rebuked the disciples who were misrepresenting him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was not the first time—nor, sadly, was it the last time, when Jesus was misrepresented. It happens over and over and over again today—and has down through time—people who are supposed to be Christians act diametrically opposite to the way that Jesus would.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.ptm.org/want-see-mark-1046-52-greg-albrecht"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>CLICK HERE to continue</b></span></a></div>
Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-5631945198466092402017-05-29T10:41:00.000-07:002017-05-29T10:41:27.634-07:00Identity in Christ - Steve McVey<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/117688605?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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<b><a href="https://vimeo.com/117688605">McVey-Identity in Christ</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user14780090">Plain Truth Ministries</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</b>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-48739785102512922702017-05-25T14:46:00.001-07:002017-05-25T14:46:20.116-07:00Are You 'Saved'? (uh ...) by Brad Jersak<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ptm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2017-05-25-at-2.21.55-PM.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-7903 alignright" height="320" src="https://www.ptm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2017-05-25-at-2.21.55-PM-300x300.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Trinity by Scott Erickson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">A constellation of questions, common to some Christian traditions, increasingly makes me cringe.
</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Are you saved?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Is he/she saved?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">When were you saved?</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">I know what is intended. They are identifying ‘saved’ with the moment I ‘invited Christ into my heart’ through the faith confession involved in ‘the Sinner’s Prayer.’ If that is how and when I was saved, I suppose you could say I was ‘saved’ when I was six-years-old. That’s when I personally and consciously responded to the grace of God.
So why does that give me the heebie-jeebies?
Was that when I was saved?
It caused me to pause and explore how various Christians use the term "salvation" or "saved,” and how the New Testament does so, too.
The issue arose afresh when Paul Young wrote in his new book, <em><a href="http://wmpaulyoung.com/lies-we-believe-about-god/">Lies We Believe About God</a>:</em>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Are you suggesting that everyone is saved? Do you believe in universal salvation?</strong>
<strong>That is exactly what I am saying.</strong></span></blockquote>
<a href="https://www.ptm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2017-05-25-at-2.31.39-PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-7904 alignleft" height="300" src="https://www.ptm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2017-05-25-at-2.31.39-PM-212x300.png" width="212" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">Yet Paul also says he is not a Universalist. So then, what does he mean? He continues:
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<span style="font-size: large;">Every person who has ever been conceived was included in the death, burial, resurrection and ascension in Jesus. When Jesus was lifted up, God ‘dragged’ all human beings to Himself (John 12:32) and that Jesus is the Savior of all humankind, (I Tim 4:10). Further, every single human being is in Christ and Christ is in them, and Christ is in the Father (John 14:20). When Christ died—the Creator in whom the cosmos was created—we all died. When Christ rose, we rose (II Cor. 5).
The context of salvation involves three dimensions. First, prior to the foundation of the world we were all included. Saved in eternity (II Tim 1:9). Second, in the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus we were all included (II Cor 5:19). Third, within the context of our own experience a present tense on-going active participation to work out what God has worked in (Phil 2:12-13). Although we didn’t do anything in the accomplishment of our salvation (except to kill Jesus), our participation in the working out of this salvation is essential. Our ongoing choices matter.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, is everyone saved? Depends what you mean.
Does salvation include everyone? It would seem so.
Is our willing response necessary? It’s essential. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On this note, I had a fantastic discussion with Paul and some other scholars about his approach (I affirm). </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.ptm.org/are-you-saved"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>CLICK HERE to continue</b></span></a>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-19886955797060037192017-05-24T11:58:00.003-07:002017-05-24T11:58:42.487-07:00CWR Blog Subscribers - Renew Subscription for Additional FREE Resources<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">• <strong><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://ptm.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Dbd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de%26id%3D6fcdd359fa%26e%3D3fc2dfecc5&source=gmail&ust=1495737910896000&usg=AFQjCNEYFm2zJFv2_ScuXek8utT9xRoRAw" href="http://ptm.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de&id=6fcdd359fa&e=3fc2dfecc5" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"></a></i></strong><em><b><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://ptm.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Dbd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de%26id%3Daa898c6417%26e%3D3fc2dfecc5&source=gmail&ust=1495737910896000&usg=AFQjCNH3PSIXpu5CenRk_FkHSbaTdmO2RQ" href="http://ptm.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de&id=aa898c6417&e=3fc2dfecc5" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Christianity <span class="m_-5749562446314477455GramE">Without</span> the Religion Magazine:</a></b></em> Enjoy a spiritual feast in the latest issue of <em>CWR magazine.</em></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em></em>• <strong><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://ptm.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Dbd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de%26id%3D2494fe7cf0%26e%3D3fc2dfecc5&source=gmail&ust=1495737910896000&usg=AFQjCNGP5jN7Mfp0kHJOeM-8_JDTELI-yg" href="http://ptm.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de&id=2494fe7cf0&e=3fc2dfecc5" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"></a></i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://ptm.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u%3Dbd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de%26id%3D2c8ede6529%26e%3D3fc2dfecc5&source=gmail&ust=1495737910896000&usg=AFQjCNHR2rkTbmWH7KIKAEhkbVrLiioqJg" href="http://ptm.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=bd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de&id=2c8ede6529&e=3fc2dfecc5" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><em>Plain Truth Magazine:</em></a></strong> Read the latest issue of the award-winning <em>Plain Truth!</em></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">• <strong><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://ptm.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u%3Dbd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de%26id%3D5b734cfb65%26e%3D3fc2dfecc5&source=gmail&ust=1495737910896000&usg=AFQjCNE4DYg-dtt7yaL-h7X5UjNhyJM03Q" href="http://ptm.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=bd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de&id=5b734cfb65&e=3fc2dfecc5" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Books from CWRpress:</a></i></strong> Take a look at the books now available from CWRpress— an imprint of Plain Truth Ministries.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">• <strong><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://ptm.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u%3Dbd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de%26id%3D40357a61ce%26e%3D3fc2dfecc5&source=gmail&ust=1495737910896000&usg=AFQjCNHzrJbWWKSWwMKLKAMOGjM8ATtkZQ" href="http://ptm.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=bd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de&id=40357a61ce&e=3fc2dfecc5" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">CWR Bible Survey:</a></i></strong> This Bible study/devotional is a resource designed to help you learn about the contents of the Bible.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">• <strong><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://ptm.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u%3Dbd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de%26id%3D9b538665f6%26e%3D3fc2dfecc5&source=gmail&ust=1495737910896000&usg=AFQjCNF8roERk3BwNQl_bgGPuMBUQkFaMQ" href="http://ptm.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=bd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de&id=9b538665f6&e=3fc2dfecc5" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Christianity Without the Religion Audio:</a></i></strong> This week's timely and relevant sermon by Greg Albrecht.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">• <strong><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://ptm.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u%3Dbd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de%26id%3D198a1c3067%26e%3D3fc2dfecc5&source=gmail&ust=1495737910896000&usg=AFQjCNF5lLW6qQ0_AOrUfnT3Bhx2ECveTg" href="http://ptm.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=bd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de&id=198a1c3067&e=3fc2dfecc5" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Front Page:</a></i></strong> Click here to enjoy compelling food for thought—new items posted <span class="il">weekly</span>.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">• <strong><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://ptm.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Dbd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de%26id%3D3a856f1cfe%26e%3D3fc2dfecc5&source=gmail&ust=1495737910896000&usg=AFQjCNGP2JlGH43-nIG50aBNHyWduQPqsg" href="http://ptm.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd5de97bafd400d5d6a2964de&id=3a856f1cfe&e=3fc2dfecc5" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">CWR Blog:</a></i></strong> Find out what's new this week at our <em>CWR Blog,</em> hosted by Brad Jersak.</span> </blockquote>
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Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-89121803765833002492017-05-22T10:39:00.000-07:002017-05-22T10:39:12.137-07:00Christ is Our Life - Steve McVey<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/117696433?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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<b><a href="https://vimeo.com/117696433">McVey-Jesus is Our Life</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user14780090">Plain Truth Ministries</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</b>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-17842386384992651202017-05-15T13:39:00.005-07:002017-05-15T13:39:51.951-07:00WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'THE NARROW GATE?' – GREG ALBRECHT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXdsTCNmMoKBzLysCbC2vRCVznw1XTOGvh4Q4hk6xd2K_90xmRx_hzcm68Ec0D4Z89EgV-km4sviMpD30qNpxlW37g97299wp986bYbtGpmwZk2S0X7Zk6loB1oI1C8kKccJiW6UQJzk/s1600/0055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXdsTCNmMoKBzLysCbC2vRCVznw1XTOGvh4Q4hk6xd2K_90xmRx_hzcm68Ec0D4Z89EgV-km4sviMpD30qNpxlW37g97299wp986bYbtGpmwZk2S0X7Zk6loB1oI1C8kKccJiW6UQJzk/s640/0055.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em style="color: #413732; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.—Matthew 7:13-14</em><br />
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This passage is often preached from the perspective of how hard it is to obey God and keep his laws—how hard it is to “make the grade” to get into heaven—how relatively few souls will be counted worthy of heaven while the broad majority will end up in hell.</div>
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Matthew 7:13-14 is one of those passages that is regularly preached to mean something altogether different than the meaning that God intends. In fact, it may make my list of the top 25 most misunderstood and often misapplied passages in the entire Bible.</div>
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The passage begins with Jesus’ admonition to “enter through the narrow gate.” As many preachers and students of the Bible read these words, it seems to me that they take their own feelings about what constitutes a difficult and narrow gate (and a wide gate and a broad road) and apply them to what Jesus is teaching.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.ptm.org/just-mean-narrow-gate-greg-albrecht"><span style="color: blue;">CLICK HERE to continue</span></a></b></div>
Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-67735701853279734652017-05-15T10:38:00.000-07:002017-05-15T10:38:12.659-07:00Not rules-keeping but Christ-in-you - Steve McVey<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/117696885?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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<b><a href="https://vimeo.com/117696885">McVey-Not Rules but Christ Living in You</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user14780090">Plain Truth Ministries</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</b>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-19485955210936323802017-05-12T10:48:00.000-07:002017-05-12T10:48:50.129-07:00Prophetic Hope or Partisan Megaphone? Kenneth Tanner<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: 'San Francisco', -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, '.SFNSText-Regular', sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Words of Wisdom from Kenneth Tanner Christian leaders</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you are involved in the care of souls please avoid and flee the ever-present temptation to enter the partisan fray of contemporary life in America. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If things get *actually* horrendous (I </span><span style="font-size: large;">know things are not well) those who look to men and women of the cloth for comfort and direction and wisdom need to be able to trust you.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They will not be able to trust you—even if they cannot consciously perceive or articulate a lack of trust—if you have been a shrill and (more or less) unending megaphone for the left or right or whatever cause célèbre replaces Jesus Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Trust is earned by consistently elevating the person of Jesus Christ (as much as the Spirit enables us in our weakness) in all our words and actions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The church needs prophets but you cannot be a prophet when a prophet is needed when you have played the role of chicken little or the boy who cried wolf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A besetting sin of our moment is a failure to imagine that things CAN be better than they are: in our communities, in our world, in our politics, in our care for one another and the earth, in our marriages, in all our vital relationships, in our churches, in our schools, in our corporations, on our farms and in our factories, in our hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Spirit that creates the world and resurrects Christ from the dead animates the Christian imagination, teaching us to trust that all things can indeed be made new, all things can be made well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our prison system is a horrific witness that we have given up on the capacity of the Spirit to redeem and make well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When we suppress this gospel imagination that things can be better than they are we deny the radical hope that is ours by the costly sacrificial love Christ demonstrates, achieved not only by the divine nature he shares with the Father and Spirit but by the new humanity he unveils. He invites all humanity to participate in this new creation with him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The older I get the more I understand that nothing changes until we embrace this gift of imagination, acting upon the trust Christ instills in our minds and hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am not talking about the myth of progress, nor of the inevitability of the human spirit, nor of collective and concerted human action but of a sure and certain hope we own that Christ has reversed death; that by his Spirit working in us we can bring authentic healing, deliverance, freedom, justice, forgiveness, peace, and newness of life to all persons and to every square foot of this world.</span></div>
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Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-43445372034738007082017-05-09T12:26:00.001-07:002017-05-09T12:28:05.483-07:00Jesus as Scapegoat - Richard Rohr<div style="font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: inherit; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">All the great religions of the world talk a lot about death, so there must be an essential lesson to be learned here. But throughout much of religious history our emphasis has been on killing the wrong thing and avoiding the truth: <em style="line-height: inherit;">it</em><em style="line-height: inherit;">’s you who has to die</em>, or rather, who you think you are—your false self.<em style="line-height: inherit;"> </em><em style="line-height: inherit;">It's never someone else!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Historically we moved from human sacrifice to animal sacrifice to various modes of seeming self-sacrifice, usually involving the body. For many religions, including immature Christianity, God was distant and scary, an angry deity who must be placated. God was not someone with whom you fell in love or with whom you could imagine sharing intimacy or tenderness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The common Christian reading of the Bible is that Jesus “died for our sins”—either to pay a debt to the devil (common in the first millennium) or to pay a debt to God the Father (proposed by Anselm of Canterbury, 1033-1109). Theologians later developed a “substitutionary atonement theory”—the strange idea that before God could love us God needed and demanded Jesus to be a blood sacrifice to ''atone'' for our sin. As a result, our theology became more transactional than transformational.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Franciscan philosopher and theologian John Duns Scotus (1266-1308) was not guided by the Temple language of debt, atonement, or blood sacrifice (understandably used in the New Testament written by observant Jews). He was instead inspired by the cosmic hymns in the first chapters of Colossians and Ephesians and the first chapter of John's Gospel. For Duns Scotus, the incarnation of God and the redemption of the world could never be a mere mop-up exercise in response to human sinfulness, but the proactive work of God from the very beginning. We were “chosen in Christ before the world was made” (Ephesians 1:4). Our sin could not possibly be the motive for the divine incarnation; rather, God’s motivation was infinite divine love and full self-revelation! For Duns Scotus, God never merely reacts, but always freely <em style="line-height: inherit;">acts</em>out of free and unmerited love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em style="line-height: inherit;">Jesus did not come to change the mind of God about humanity (it did not need changing)! Jesus came to change the mind of humanity about God. </em>God’s abundance and compassion make any scarcity economy of merit or atonement unhelpful and unnecessary. Jesus undid “once and for all” (Hebrews <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_957458439" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; line-height: inherit; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="line-height: inherit; position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">7:27</span></span>; <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_957458440" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; line-height: inherit; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="line-height: inherit; position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">9:12</span></span>; <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_957458441" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; line-height: inherit; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="line-height: inherit; position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10:10</span></span>) all notions of human and animal sacrifice and replaced them with his new infinite economy of grace. Jesus was meant to be a game changer for religion and the human psyche.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This grounds Christianity in love and freedom from the very beginning; it creates a very coherent and utterly attractive religion, which draws people toward lives of inner depth, prayer, reconciliation, healing, and universal “at-one-ment,” instead of mere sacrificial atonement. Nothing “changed” on Calvary but <em style="line-height: inherit;">everything </em>was revealed—an eternally outpouring love. Jesus switched the engines of history: instead of us needing to spill blood to get to God, we have God spilling blood to get to us!</span></div>
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<span class="m_4389080754621143755font-pt-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: inherit;">Gateway to Silence:</strong><br style="line-height: inherit;" />Father, forgive them.</span></h2>
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<span class="m_4389080754621143755font-pt-serif" style="line-height: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: inherit;">References:</strong></span></h2>
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Adapted from Richard Rohr,<em style="line-height: inherit;"> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.cac.org/t/d-l-klukjdy-kyukvijk-r/&source=gmail&ust=1494431461751000&usg=AFQjCNFuFXQqZXeCKklZFinIonn6cVElSw" href="http://email.cac.org/t/d-l-klukjdy-kyukvijk-r/" style="color: #545659; line-height: inherit;" target="_blank">Eager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi</a></em>(Franciscan Media: 2014), 183-188;<br />
“Dying: We Need It for Life,”<em style="line-height: inherit;"> </em><em style="line-height: inherit;">Richard Rohr on Transformation</em>, Collected Talks, Vol. 1, disc 4 (Franciscan Media: 1997); and<br />
<em style="line-height: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.cac.org/t/d-l-klukjdy-kyukvijk-y/&source=gmail&ust=1494431461751000&usg=AFQjCNHNWMeGRSenUb-AoG2gk8qRUowqSA" href="http://email.cac.org/t/d-l-klukjdy-kyukvijk-y/" style="color: #545659; line-height: inherit;" target="_blank">Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality</a> </em>(Franciscan Media: 2008), 202.</div>
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Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-41691849254499736582017-05-08T11:43:00.003-07:002017-05-08T11:44:24.850-07:00Greg Albrecht - "He Can't Stop Loving You"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em style="color: #413732; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”—John 11:25</em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ray Charles is one of my favorite blues singers of all time. The movie about his life, produced several years ago, won several Academy Awards, and was simply titled “Ray.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Human suffering has given birth to much of our music, poetry, literature and art. The tragedies and the traumas of human relationships were the fertile soil from which many of the story lines and lyrics of Ray Charles’ music grew.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I was a teenager I loved Ray’s music—it was catchy, with a sing-along melody line and on a surface level spoke to the adolescent, puppy-love infatuations I felt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But, as a teenager, I had no idea of the deeper meanings of his music nor did I know until I saw the movie that depicted the enormous pain of Ray’s life, how many of his songs were autobiographical. It took several decades before I would begin to understand the deep anguish behind Ray’s music and lyrics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The title of one of his songs, “I Can’t Stop Loving You” speaks of the pain that someone has as he or she looks back at a seemingly failed and broken relationship, but they just can’t let go. The song says that they can’t stop loving the object of their affections.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ptm.org/frontpage/%EF%BB%BF%EF%BB%BF%EF%BB%BF%EF%BB%BF%EF%BB%BFhe-cant-stop-loving"><span style="font-size: large;">CLICK HERE to continue reading</span></a></div>
<em style="color: #413732; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></em>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-89939672024416468252017-05-08T10:37:00.000-07:002017-05-08T10:37:01.372-07:00I'd Rather Have the Grace of Christ than the Bondage of Religion - Steve McVey<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/117697315?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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<b><a href="https://vimeo.com/117697315">McVey-I'd Rather Have Jesus Than Religion</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user14780090">Plain Truth Ministries</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</b>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-52826864226360555842017-05-01T23:26:00.000-07:002017-05-01T23:26:01.068-07:00My Cancer Story: 1 Year Later - Zack Hoag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3m4cGHo5RrkbMFmOY6laqXNo3fd0PnwV0T5YgNKvnB_3ghhCfBJYE3d-_0f3OzzdR6NqluocHGl43_qip5BRcazbp2cl-xe8-zHXH7iOI-zv2a7diq-hb7zUQTarecE-GeIiTNGcTNw/s1600/IMG_5318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3m4cGHo5RrkbMFmOY6laqXNo3fd0PnwV0T5YgNKvnB_3ghhCfBJYE3d-_0f3OzzdR6NqluocHGl43_qip5BRcazbp2cl-xe8-zHXH7iOI-zv2a7diq-hb7zUQTarecE-GeIiTNGcTNw/s400/IMG_5318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>“I don’t want to be a damn flower.”</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The thought raced through my mind before I even knew what my brain was saying to itself the first time I showed up in the oncologist’s office to find out if the giant mass growing in my chest was cancer or not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The flower itself was beautiful, both in appearance and sentiment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A white orchid brushed with just the slightest touch of pink, it was a kind memorial to a woman I’ll never know who lost her battle with cancer years before I ever walked through the doors of Hartford Hospital.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And it was the last thing I wanted to see while I checked into the oncologist’s office.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m acutely aware of the fact that that probably makes me sound like a massive asshole.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And I’m also acutely aware of the fact that simply using the words “damn” and “asshole” is enough for some people to check out of this post altogether and send me messages reprimanding my use of “unwholesome language.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But here’s the thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Actually, here’s the two things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First, if using mildly harsh language to talk about my battle with cancer bothers you, then you have my envy. I would love to have a life where legalism was my biggest concern, rather than a relapse of Hodgkin’s that will leave me with a 50/50 chance of seeing my little girls grow up to be the incredible women I know they’re going to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Cancer is a nightmare and it deserves the harshest language we can throw at it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><a href="http://zackhunt.net/2017/05/01/cancer-story-1-year-later/"><b>CLICK HERE to continue</b></a></span></div>
Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-87050140309935361362017-05-01T15:54:00.001-07:002017-05-01T16:09:10.799-07:00Meditation, Stillness and Transformation - Brad Jersak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had a dream last night -- a discussion with the Dalai Lama, actually. In the dream I saw the consequences of Christianity's failure to engage seriously in Judeo-Christian <i>meditation</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">While the words "meditate" or "meditation" are scary to some, they are mentioned over 30 times in Scripture ... and <i>never</i> as a rationalist exercise in 'thinking hard.' What the Psalmist describes and Jesus models is a form of God-centered meditation marked by <i>attentive, receptive prayers focused primarily on God's goodness. </i> Neglecting this practice, we typically skid into one of two ditches. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the one ditch, we see spiritually hungry people who, through religious malnutrition, opt out of the Christian faith when it refuses to attend to the needs of the contemplative soul. If Hindu or Buddhist practice (for example) offers to feed that hunger with Yoga, and if Christian meditation is negated by suspicion and fear, we shouldn't be surprised to see transfer growth from the church to the yogini's studio. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the other hand, and equally worrisome, setting aside Christian contemplative practice drastically narrows our vision of 'transformation.' Specifically, the transforming work of the Holy Spirit is reduced to moral transformation--improving our behavior. Yes, hopefully the life of Christ will generate a higher morality and empower a greater purity in our lives. Lord knows I need that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But you can imagine how that also opens the door to moralism--measuring ourselves and one another by our performance and good behavior. By those standards, the Pharisees imagined themselves superior to Christ himself!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now here's the good news: a thoroughly Christian practice of meditation--where we quiet our frenetic lives in the presence of God; become present to the grace of today; and listen for the still small voice of Love--may lead to a deeper and wider transformation in our lives. Beyond better behavior, consider how the grace of the Holy Spirit might carry us:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">from chaos to peace</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">from alienation to intimacy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">from willfulness to surrender</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">from distraction to focus</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">from obliviousness to awareness</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">from self-centeredness to compassion</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">from shame to grace</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">and so on!</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In my own life, I've experienced tremendous new stress and frustration, leading to passive-aggressive outbursts. A mentor of mine helped me identify one of the roots as <i>fragmentation. </i>I'm living far too scattered a life. I am forced to make decisions that will gather the pieces. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But my dream also served as a reminder that when it comes to Christian meditation, "been there, done that" doesn't cut it. And it was an invitation--my soul was asking--<i>how might a renewed focus on meditation transform my fragmentation into integration? </i>When I think of it that way, attuning myself to God's grace seems like a necessity -- those with religious PTSD will mishear that as 'obligation.' But if this is the grace-medicine the Great Physician prescribes, then it's less about another <i>religious duty</i> than it is about <i>faithfully answering </i>the invitation of the Gentle Shepherd. In other words, <i>yielding to the ministry of God's love. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>But note: "Just yield"</i> might sound like the opposite of <i>"struggling"</i> or <i>"striving." </i>But when Hebrews 4:11 says <i>"strive to enter that rest," </i>those of us with addictive tendencies--especially to workaholism or to religious activity--know exactly what the author means. We know that to <i>"cease striving" </i>is one of the greatest struggles we face. And this too is a transformation we may experience when we force ourselves to pause and meditate. But my experience is that if we arrest our pace, very quickly even <i>discipline is transformed to delight</i>. <i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQawMha9sJ7Ck4eUzt2ME9mSsOowCNuaD_vg_48rCAelFRgRpl2zyP2kdD7PDLaWgRKFUjozSgO_G6sWaKAuKOuap5tGgv42XrqYMfXokNJiQeQ5l5KmI5tDEuSK0dBAkDoJvuxly0fGw/s1600/Boat-in-Storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQawMha9sJ7Ck4eUzt2ME9mSsOowCNuaD_vg_48rCAelFRgRpl2zyP2kdD7PDLaWgRKFUjozSgO_G6sWaKAuKOuap5tGgv42XrqYMfXokNJiQeQ5l5KmI5tDEuSK0dBAkDoJvuxly0fGw/s400/Boat-in-Storm.jpg" width="331" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Bonus: </i>In the dream, I was going to leave the Dalai Lama my email address so we could connect. Maybe I have a few things to learn from him about meditation that I could use as a Christian. But after about a dozen failed attempts at writing it down, I just let it go. It wasn't meant to be. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In that moment, I turned to<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Jesus. As if I were responding to Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-30, "<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;">…</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;">Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. </span><span class="highl" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Take My yoke upon you and <u>learn from Me</u>; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.<b> </b></span></span></span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">More precisely, in the dream I turned to the story of Jesus</span> sleeping in the boat through the storm on the Sea of Galilee. I could see the lake, the storm, the boat. I could see the disciples, overwhelmed by the waves like I get, panicking to bale the water out before the boat sinks ... and I could also see the place in the boat where Jesus was sleeping peacefully. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now don't take this as exegetical analysis; it's not. It's a <i>meditation. </i>In the dream, Jesus asked me, <i>"Do you really think I was sleeping?" </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> Sure</i>, I said. <i>The text says so</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <i>"Well, the disciples thought so," </i>he said. <i>"But when I came to them walking on water, they also thought I was a ghost.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> "And even when I said Jairus' daughter is 'sleeping,' you don't believe she was just sleeping, do you?" </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Um, </i>I thought, <i>if you weren't sleeping ...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> "Maybe I was praying. Or what if I was *meditating*?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And then I imagined Jesus was not sleeping; he was meditating. I imagined he was <i>being still. </i>And then when then "woke him up," he got up and said, <i>"Be still!" </i>And then the wind and waves listened, and <i>became still </i>like him. And <i>what if I became still like him? </i>I don't know if my waves would be still, but maybe at least my boat wouldn't sink. Or at least I might stop hollering at the waves and my family and at Jesus. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And then I woke up. And now I think I will pause my blogging about meditation and stillness, and once again, give it a belated go. Who knows how a little stillness could change me.</span>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-28469800695848442502017-05-01T12:05:00.003-07:002017-05-01T12:05:52.583-07:00One in Christ Jesus: Religious Gender Discrimination - Greg Albrecht<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote style="color: #413732; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; line-height: 26px; margin: 1em 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
<em>There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.—Galatians 3:28</em></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="color: #5d534b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
What exactly is a mother? What is her job description? What does a mother do? There’s a story about a man who came home from a long day at work—when he drove into his driveway he saw his three children, still in their pajamas, covered from head to toe in mud, fighting and screaming.</div>
<div style="color: #5d534b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
He was just too exhausted to deal with it, so he walked right past his kids, through the front door, into a house that was in upheaval. Chaos reigned supreme.</div>
<div style="color: #5d534b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
The TV was blaring, furniture had been knocked over, dishes were piled on the kitchen counter and in the sink and empty food wrappers and containers littered the rest of the kitchen. As he made his way upstairs he had to carefully avoid toys and children’s clothing scattered everywhere.</div>
<div style="color: #5d534b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
He was worried that his wife must be sick and in bed. She was in bed, still in her pajamas, reading a book. She smiled at him and asked him how his day went.</div>
<div style="color: #5d534b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
Her husband, still in a state of shock, said, “What in the world happened today? This place is a mess!”</div>
<div style="color: #5d534b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
She smiled sweetly and said, “Well, you know, every day when you get home you always ask me what I did that day?”</div>
<div style="color: #5d534b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
He said, “Yeah…”</div>
<div style="color: #5d534b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
She said, “Well, today, I didn’t do it.”</div>
<div style="color: #5d534b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
Let’s consider one half of the human race—women and mothers, the gender that brought each one of us into the world. Let’s begin with an insight that will rock the known world: Men and women are different.</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a href="http://www.ptm.org/frontpage/one-christ-jesus"><span style="color: blue;">CLICK HERE to continue</span></a></div>
Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-64625267105462010112017-05-01T10:32:00.000-07:002017-05-01T10:32:15.156-07:00Violence upon violence - Brian Zahnd<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/137885710?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<b><a href="https://vimeo.com/137885710">Zahnd_Civilization-Violence Upon Violence</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user14780090">Plain Truth Ministries</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</b>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-11599798858019851252017-04-27T12:45:00.000-07:002017-04-27T12:45:22.730-07:00Finding Life in Losing Control - Justin Stumvoll
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<h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: 'adobe text pro'; font-size: 37px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">It’s Sunday afternoon and I’m
here sitting quietly in my house. Abi, my wife, is away for the week speaking
at events and I’m enjoying some leisure time reading a book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">With Abi gone, the house is
clutter free. Mind you, she’s a self-proclaimed hurricane. And to give her
credit she’s light years beyond where she was when we got married. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I used to joke that if you wanted
to find where Abi was, after she got home from being away, you could simply
follow the trail of clothes and items that she would slowly shed as she made
her way through the door to her destination. I, on the other hand, am like a
silent ninja. As I enter the home I put away everything from the day in its
rightful place, leaving the home looking like no one was there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">On this Sunday, as I sit here in
my clutter-free space, I’m in a zen-like state, lacking only the companionship
of the one I love. Abi jokingly, with a hint of seriousness, always asks,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Times; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><i>“Does it feel good to have me out of
the space and to have everything in order?”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I jokingly, with a hint of
seriousness, always answer,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Times; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><i>“Boy does it!”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">In relationship with Abi, I am
always out of control with the house. Like all relationships we always find
ourselves, in one aspect or another, being out of control. In some instances,
we fight aggressively to gain control. We’ll go to all kinds of lengths to get
it, even if it means breaking the spirit of those we love.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><a href="http://wmpaulyoung.com/finding-life-in-losing-control/"><span style="color: blue;">CLICK HERE to continue</span></a></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4012493007082311301.post-81794738685760313432017-04-24T10:30:00.000-07:002017-04-24T10:30:15.959-07:00The Prince of Peace - Brian Zahnd<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/141572890?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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<b><a href="https://vimeo.com/141572890">Brian Zahnd - The Prince of Peace</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user14780090">Plain Truth Ministries</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</b>Brad Jersakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209875811138723372noreply@blogger.com